I am saying that Nigerians must stand
together to defend the Presidential
institution. On his own part the President
continues to take action to extend the
frontiers of our freedom; His politics is
clear cut and it is anchored on:
deepening our democracy.
A friend called me from Gboko, Benue State,
insisting that we aides of President Jonathan
must do more “to defend the President and
the institution of the presidency”.
Specifically he said that negative “words are
used on a daily basis by desperate
individuals who are out to capture power and
destroy our country”.
My dear brothers, sisters and friends here
gathered in Mark Zukerbergs’ Stadium, I told
my friend that though President Jonathan
has no newspaper, radio or TV Station outlet
of his own to defend himself and propagate
his views without distortion, ordinary
Nigerians will stand with and defend him
when it matters most.
The words my friend mentioned have been
used to unjustly describe leaders around the
world.
Specifically I drew his attention to President
Barrack Obama the first black to be president
of the USA and his travails of
“incompetence” “cluelessness” and
“corruption”.
I said it maybe because Jonathan is also a
pioneer on account of him being the first
minority from the South to become President!
(quite an unexpected event that only God can
explain).
When you put yourself forward for service I
reminded my friend, you become a target for
all kinds of diatribes. My friend was not in
the mood for excuses, “rambling and noise”
he said and asked: “what has Obama got to
do with the insults been heaped on our
president?”
I said to him quiet a bit! A quick Google
search at 0.29seconds speed on “Clueless
Obama” revealed a hit of fifteen million
seven hundred thousand references
(15,700,000); a search for “Incompetent
Obama”, at 0.35seconds gives three million
nine hundred thousand (3,900, 000) hits,
while “corrupt Obama administration” will
grant you a whooping fifty-four million, eight
hundred thousand (54,800,000) hits.
Now if you add the latest word in Nigerias’
political lexicon “Kindergarten” and do a
search on “Kindergarten Obama” you will get
Seven million eight hundred and forty
thousand (7,840,000) hits at 0.25seconds!
These are citizens of the most powerful
nation on earth expressing themselves! As
we expand the frontiers of our freedom and
deepen our democracy, more of such high
decibel negativism is to be expected.
The result from Google on GEJ says that: two
million one hundred and fifty thousand
(2,150,000) hit by persons who allege or
wrote on “corruption” dragging GEJ into the
piece (compared to 54, 800, 000 against
Obama); one hundred and seventy-six
thousand (176,000) below the belt punch on
our beloved President on “incompetence”,
compared to (3,900,000 punches on Obama),
Seventy-four thousand five hundred (74,500)
slams on “clueless” (compared to
15,700,000 on Obama) and Eighty five
thousand five hundred (85,500) knocks on
“Kindergarten” GEJ (compared to 7,840,000
kindergarten Obama even though most refer
to Obama visiting kindergarten schools!).
I am saying that Nigerians must stand
together to defend the Presidential
institution. On his own part the President
continues to take action to extend the
frontiers of our freedom; His politics is clear
cut and it is anchored on: deepening our
democracy. He has “no enemies to fight”, All
votes must count and that “one man one
vote, one woman one vote and one youth,one
vote” in addition to “a dialogue based
inclusive approach to decision making”.
The current diatribes to detract and distract
GEJ from continuing the good work of
building our economy through Agriculture,
Aviation, Transportation, Energy Security,
Trade and Investment, Education, Peace and
concensus building etc, may have been
designed to delay Nigeria’s forward march.
His desire and commitment in delivering on
critical infrastructure (rail, roads, airports,
electricity etc) plus his abiding focus in
strengthening our institutions especially,
NHRC, INEC, EFCC, ICPC, NASS, etc. (no
interference) is what will eventually count.
The DNA of good governance can only be
transferred from one government to the other
and from one generation to another when
governance institutions are allowed to grow
strong and complement one another!
————————-
Oronto Natei Douglas is the Presidential
Adviser on Research, Strategy &
Documentation.